193: Chapter 193 Kotetsu Isane's "Special Assignment"

The next morning, before the sun had fully illuminated Seireitei, Mia was awakened by a rapid knocking at her door.

"Mia! It's time for special Kaido training!"

Isane Kotetsu's energetic voice from outside the door made Mia bury her head in her pillow. She wrapped herself in her blanket and shouted towards the door, "Isn't there no Kaido class today?!"

"This is after-school tutoring specially approved by Captain Unohana~"

As the door opened, Isane's tall figure appeared in the doorway. She looked particularly spirited today, her white 4th Division uniform neatly buttoned to the top, her light purple long hair tied up high, and in her hand, she held a shimmering blue crystal ball.

Mia squinted, "What's that ball...?"

"Oh, this?" Isane playfully shook the crystal ball. "It's the 'Reishi Resonance Recorder' newly developed by the Department of Research and Development. It can completely record the entire process of Kaido treatment."

"Wait, record?!"

Mia instantly sobered up halfway. She vaguely remembered something like that being mentioned yesterday... that damned recording Kidō!

"Isane..." Mia gritted her teeth and pulled on her uniform jacket, "You wouldn't be thinking of..."

"That's right!" Isane's smile was dazzlingly bright. "Today's special training is to simulate 'treating a comatose captain in an emergency'! I've specially prepared a full set of equipment~"

Mia looked at the various strange devices that suddenly appeared by her bed, her scalp tingling. She even suspected that Isane Kotetsu was possessed by something strange, or that Captain Unohana had developed some special feelings for her.

In the center of the classroom, Mia lay lifelessly on a specially designed medical bed. Her limbs were secured with straps equipped with Reishi sensors, and three recording crystals floated above her body, aimed at her from different angles.

"Alright, let's begin~" Isane's voice was filled with irrepressible excitement. She put on white gloves, and a faint healing Reishi glowed at her fingertips.

Mia closed her eyes in despair, "At least... turn off the crystals..."

"No, that won't do. These are important training materials~ I'll be enjoying, erm, I mean, studying them with Captain Unohana later."

As Isane's fingertips touched her collarbone, the first irrepressible whimper escaped Mia's lips. Immediately after—

"Ah! Th-there, not there... Isane! Mmm!~"

"Oh~ This Reishi reaction is quite special..." Isane pointed earnestly at the Spiritual Body Meridian Map on the whiteboard used for teaching.

"W-wait! You're definitely doing this on purpose, aren't you?!"

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, the training ground door was suddenly pulled open.

Soi Fon stood at the doorway with a dark expression, behind her was a visibly embarrassed Marechiyo Ōmaeda. (Marechiyo Ōmaeda was suffering internally; was this something he should be seeing?)

Her gaze swept back and forth between Mia's restrained wrists and Isane's actions, finally settling on the spinning recording crystals.

"Is this how you 4th Division members practice Kaido?"

Isane calmly adjusted the angle of another crystal, "Is Captain Soi Fon also joining the training? We're at a critical stage right now..."

"No need." Soi Fon coldly interrupted her, her gaze falling on Mia's flushed face. "I'm here to inform you that this afternoon's Hakuda class—"

She suddenly reached out, used Shunpo to arrive by the medical bed, and with lightning speed, cut all the restraints.

"—has been temporarily changed to practical combat training." After saying that, she pulled up Mia, who hadn't yet reacted. "I'm taking this person."

Before Isane could object, Soi Fon had already disappeared from the training ground with Mia. Marechiyo Ōmaeda jogged behind, not forgetting to give Isane a "goodbye" gesture.

"So..."

At the corner of the corridor, Mia leaned against the wall, looking at Soi Fon in front of her, and suddenly couldn't help but laugh.

"Is Captain Soi Fon... protecting me?"

Soi Fon adjusted her gloves with a stern face, "I just can't stand such unprofessional training methods."

"Oh~" Mia drew out the sound, "Then this afternoon's practical combat training..."

"It's changed to 1v1, no observers." Soi Fon said expressionlessly, "Don't you want to learn proper Hakuda? I'll teach you personally."

Mia paused, suddenly feeling that this seemingly ice-cold captain was unexpectedly...

"You're actually a good person, Soi Fon."

"...Shut up. Another word and you get an extra five hours of training. And! If you hide your strength again, I'll give you an instant-kill [Suzumebachi Nigeki Kessatsu]!"

"Huh? Soi Fon's favorability seems to have subtly increased? Should I tease her this afternoon?" Mia began to feel a bit conflicted.

In the classroom, Isane's hair was messy. "It's over, the task Captain Unohana gave me, I can't complete it! I might have to experience Mia's treatment myself when I get back..."

Tuaner, eavesdropping on the roof of Isane's classroom, thought, "Honestly, my Mia-chan has been snatched away again. It seems I need to quickly push down this woman, Mia, who attracts bees and butterflies!"

...Four hours later, a bruised Soi Fon was sitting obediently on the floor, being treated by Mia.

"Lady Yoruichi was right, you're ridiculously strong!" Soi Fon's admiration was almost palpable.

"Still talking?! Who fights as desperately as you? We agreed it was a spar. Good thing it was me; if it were someone else, they really couldn't hold back... couldn't withstand your attacks!" Mia realized she had just contradicted the lie she'd told with her actions, and her face was flustered.

"Alright, I know I'm still far behind you! I won't have any bottomless competitiveness." Soi Fon slapped away Mia's hand, which was applying medicine to her.

"That's good enough. You truly live up to your title as the 4th Division's Lieutenant." Soi Fon began to get dressed, preparing to leave the martial arts arena she had the authority to close.

Soi Fon, at the doorway, suddenly turned back, "Please guide me in combat again next time, Lieutenant Mia!"

"Mhm! I also learned a lot from fighting you!" Mia's sweet smile reappeared on her face.

"I think you should visit the 4th Division when you're free. Captain Unohana might be in a bad mood recently because she hasn't seen you..." Soi Fon deliberated for a moment before stating her speculation.

"Uh, yes, okay! It must be as you said, otherwise Isane wouldn't have done such an excessive thing to me!" Mia was a bit slow to realize.

"Let's go!" Soi Fon pulled open the door. Marechiyo Ōmaeda, who was waiting outside, was secretly snacking and was startled by Soi Fon, almost dropping the dried sweet potatoes in his hand.

Soi Fon didn't say anything. Marechiyo Ōmaeda sheepishly followed behind his captain and left.

"I still have to thank Soi Fon. I'll go deliver breakfast to Captain Unohana tomorrow morning!" Mia looked at the sky full of evening glow, found the three little ones scattered throughout Shinō Academy of Spiritual Arts, and walked towards the 11th Division.